december 2015
contents Introduction Looking around, what did we learn? Looking ahead, what do we see? Looking back, what did we achieve? Thanks from the Associate Country Director Wendy Lubbee Poem
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introduction “ The planning and execution of the Oxfam Australia office and program closure had a number of key milestones to ensure that we finish our program well. The successful hosting of the Re-vision events were not only momentous occasions in and of themselves, but in the minds and hearts of the staff and partners brought home the reality of Oxfam Australia withdrawing from the country. As a result, the events were deeply emotional occasions where staff and partners came to terms with the fact that indeed Oxfam Australia is leaving and what that meant both for themselves and their organisations. The report to follow is a reflection of the learning and does not necessarily reflect the strong emotions that were shared during these events.� Wendy Lubbee, Associate Country Director, OAU in SA
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The Re-Vision events were held in November 2015. The initial plan was that we would have one large ‘Link and Learn’ event with all partners but due to circumstances beyond our control we were not able to do this and opted to have three separate events. ‘Link and Learns’ have been an annual space for reflection, learning and innovation for OAU and our partner organisations. OAU used this well-known (and well-liked!) way of engaging with partners not only as a way to celebrate the achievements, and partnerships and attain a sense of closure, but to enhance relationship-building, learning and looking ahead. Three events were held with partners around three different areas of focus. In Cape Town (Western Cape Province), the focus was hate crimes; in Durban (KwaZulu-Natal Province), livelihoods was the focus area; and in Bela Bela (Limpopo Province), the event centred on the concept of ‘regaining ground’.
2 Reflect on the current state of the development sector, and their province in particular 3 Network, explore and deepen partner alliances 4
The overarching objectives set out for the Re-Vision events were to:
Explore how partners can collaboratively engage with other civil society actors around government policies and processes, going forward.
1 Reflect and celebrate the great work that has been achieved through the Oxfam-funded partnerships
This report seeks to reflect on the above objectives and to what extent they were met, as well as draw out the main threads across and within the various regional events. This report is based on: documenting from the events; a participant survey through evaluation sheets; a staff survey; facilitator reflections; and OAU Board and Oxfam affiliate feedback.
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looking around, what did we learn? The three Re-Vision events had distinct themes and processes based on the key issue(s) of partners’ program/work in their respective regions. These were also designed to build on current policy-making processes nationally and provincially, as well as future areas for engagement, alliance-building, and solidarity. In this way, the themes and processes take on national significance in ‘re-visioning development’ and it was felt that it would be important to share ‘headlines’ from these various discussions across the partnership.
Hate Crimes Cape Town
As the first of the Re-Vision events, this discussion on hate crimes in South Africa was aptly held at the District Six Homecoming Centre1. During and after the session, many participants commented on how important this setting was in cementing the conversations in a historical context.
The purpose of this Re-Vision event was: • To call attention to the narrative of hate crimes through bridging the divide between evidence-based practices and advocacy issues; and • To engage in critical reflection around existing national hate crime legislation and advocacy, and law reform initiatives: its impact, promoting factors, and collaborative efforts to address these criminal acts.
1 http://www.districtsix.co.za/
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The partner event enabled the sharing of achievements and challenges faced in working in the area of hate crimes, and allowed participants to deepen their understanding on this challenge. This took place through key presentations by organisational representatives, through video clips and an engagement by participants with the ideas presented. Links were made between individual experiences of hate crimes, community responses and organisational efforts.
Hate crimes are defined as crimes that are motivated by prejudice or hatred, based on the victim’s identity. These acts are directed at many different people, for example, people with disabilities get targeted, as well as older women who get targeted as witches. It is also a ‘message crime’ by conveying to the wider community/society that a certain aspect of a person’s identity will not be tolerated. For many victims of hate crimes, secondary victimisation is a difficult reality2. Hate crime exists on a continuum and ranges from hate speech to physical violence.
“ Links were made between individual experiences of hate crimes, community responses and organisational efforts.”
“ Hate crimes are defined as crimes that are motivated by prejudice or hatred, based on the victim’s identity.”
These experiences were framed against contextual understandings of: • Increased securitisation and masculinisation of politics at national, • •
Two key forms of hate crimes discussed were those against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ) persons and foreign nationals (i.e. xenophobia). Currently in South Africa, a multi-stakeholder hate crimes working group collects information on hate crimes.
regional and global levels; High levels of current violence in South Africa, linked to our violent past; and The intersectionality of race, class, urban/rural location, and so on.
2 This occurs when the victim is harassed when seeking to report a crime or access a service.
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Partner responses to hate crimes within the Integral framework
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norms and formal exclusionary institutions practices laws, and policies
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A key challenge is the need to attend to the roots of the problem and that the work needed for this tends to fall outside of funding cycles, and of monitoring and evaluating systems. Culture and religion were posed as systemic, structural drivers of hate crimes, alongside and interconnecting with racism, patriarchy, poverty and inequality. It was noted that there is need to challenge the status quo in order to construct new ways of being and interacting. Power needs to be challenged at all levels to enable transformation in every aspect of life. All levels of privilege, including ‘whiteness’, need to be disrupted and questioned in work on LGBTIQ hate crimes.
people’s people’s access to consciousness resources
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In considering crimes against LGBTIQ persons it was noted that: • There was no category for hate crimes, hence statistics tell us very little of what is going on; • Hate crime legislation is being advocated for on the grounds that legislation will help with accurate statistics, with early warning, and will have a symbolic value of sending a clear message to society, as well as establishing a normative way to respond to these acts. There is need for a comprehensive inter-departmental state response to hate crimes, and legislation may assist in pushing for this; and • Responses by Oxfam partner organisations to hate crimes take the form of direct assistance (with most energy placed here); awareness raising; and advocacy and mainstreaming.
ca vo ime d a r c ate
tematic level
Source: Rao and Kelleher’s 2003 Integral Framework
3 Operation Fiela‚ which means “sweep clean”‚ was launched by the inter-ministerial committee on migration after violence against foreigners broke out in April 2015. According to government‚ it was meant to rid the country of “illegal weapons‚ drug dens and prostitution rings”. Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/07/22/Operation-Fiela-demoralises-and-dehumanises-migrants
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In considering xenophobia, it was further noted: • While migration has taken place from time immemorial, currently migrants are ‘othered’ and under attack; • South Africa has good laws in place but there have been challenges at levels of interpretation and implementation; • Xenophobia is evident among state players – as with the terminology within ‘operation fiela’3 and the xenophobic statements of political leaders which fan attacks against foreign nationals; • Refugee communities under attack in 2015 stood up and organised a march to protest the attacks against them with support from some South African organisations – this was different from the attacks in 2008 where the foreign national community were less actively vocal and organised; • Awareness and education is taking place through, for example, documentaries; and • A proactive approach is needed
Livelihoods durban
Undoubtedly, the largest of the Re-Vision events, the discussions and celebrations in Durban saw the majority of partners come together with staff to deliberate on the critical question of livelihoods in South Africa.
The main aim of this Re-Vision event was: • For OAU partners to share their knowledge and experience on livelihoods with peers in a structured learning event. This was done from multiple angles throughout the course of the day, namely: plenary presentations; partner led group discussions and presentations; video; and a celebration dinner. During the course of the event, a number of issues to take forward, in thought and action, were highlighted: • In South Africa, although access to services has increased dramatically since apartheid, income distribution has remained unchanged. • Inequalities are built into livelihoods in South Africa. • A critical question raised which the group grappled with throughout was around the role civil society play with regards to poverty, inequality and livelihood systems. This remains something to think through for all civil society organisations. • Human agency is critical to bring about positive change in livelihoods. • It is important to have individualised approaches to working with beneficiaries.
Ultimately, organisations need to work in partnership in order to address the complex reality we face. Those affected by hate crimes need to be supported in self-organising to address these crimes. Government needs to be challenged, and institutions like the South African Human Rights Commission and Parliament need to be lobbied for both policy and ‘on-the-ground’ changes.
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• Although difficult, and at times contradictory, it is important for civil society organisations (CSOs) to build relationships with government. • There is more impact if things are done collectively. • CSOs need to have diverse roles such as holding government to account and creating formal partnerships on specific issues. • Many challenges were noted such as difficulties with payment, and lack of delivery. • South Africa has a comparatively smaller informal economy compared to other developing countries. • There is a complex interplay between individual motivation and agency, with structural factors which work against informality such as police suppression and spatial inequality. • A discussion was had on entrepreneurship and young people reflecting on whether, given the difficult socioeconomic circumstances, young South Africans are hopeful or apathetic. While it is often cited that entrepreneurship is low in South Africa, the resourcefulness witnessed in many communities cannot be ignored. • Civil society organisations should give more support informal economy activities . • There is a need to challenge the private sector more, although this is difficult. • Strategies should be developed for challenging the private sector, for example forming coalitions to have a more powerful voice. • Acknowledge that the private sector holds a large amount of funds for development. • There is the need for more income generating projects at community level, as well as reforming the wage-labour relationship.
• There are multiple ‘capitals’ that need to be engaged in order to successfully impact an individual’s livelihood as per the following diagram:
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Sustainable livelihoods intervention designs
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Adapted from Nengovhela (2011)
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• The system itself is unequal and perpetuates inequality. • There is the need for self-awareness, critical understanding and collective action. • A power analysis is required to create an awareness of entrenched power dynamics. • There are different ways to support active citizenship, which is always a complex and unpredictable process. • CREATE has had both positive and negative experiences with different arms of government. Save the Children seeks to work with all levels of government. Biowatch advocates using evidence based research to engage government structures. • The role of the CSO was discussed and it was reiterated that at a community level, the CSO acts as an intermediary/facilitator, while at a government level, the power of communities must be retained along with a solutions orientation to the problems experienced. • Other pointers for CSOs are: alignment with government policy; a balance in terms of independence; use of existing public platforms; an understanding of government performance frameworks; and a focus on working with the willing.
• There are many alternative livelihoods options that partners are supporting. • Examples of these include Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust’s work with crafters, and Siyavuna’s work with emerging farmers. • Key issues here are access to markets, branding, and building business skills, among others • Poor quality education and a shrinking formal economy makes youth unemployment one of the most critical concerns in South Africa. Partners are responding in a variety of ways but the main focus has been on skills development and employment. • Consistent guidance and psychosocial support is essential. • Building and maintaining relationships with employers, albeit challenging, is necessary. • Continual learning and innovation is key, for example reflecting on whether CSOs should be broadening our interventions to be both employment and entrepreneurship focused. • The importance of working together as CSOs and being aware of other programs/opportunities youth could access was emphasised. • There was disagreement among CSOs over how involved young people should be in program design.
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The environment could not have been more grounding or more appropriate. The 2 days spent with the Limpopo partners and friends, were ones of deep personal reflection and sharing. There were a number of points raised by partners to take forward within their organisations and in their communities, as well as between one another: • Community ownership is key. • The importance of this way of working was emphasised throughout the sessions, but most especially in the exploration of the work the Bela Bela community have undertaken. • It was agreed that this is a critical way to ensure sustainability. • The importance of the role of people within development should not be underestimated. • In the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector, for example, Thusanang Trust shared how you can give the same training to everyone, but people will take knowledge and skills, and apply them differently. • In deeper discussions, trying to understand and manage personal vulnerabilities was highlighted. Many of the challenges experienced by partners were at the personal/individual level. • Poor leadership in all sectors emerged as a critical issue. • The changing nature of the HIV/AIDS and TB challenges in South Africa was evident. • The health and social implications of the pandemics have made the development landscape much more complex. • The presentation by Dr Njeka from the Department of Health noted that the 4 main health problems in the country are: the ‘twin diseases’ of HIV/AIDS and TB, high maternal and child mortality, high levels of violence and injuries, and growing non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension etc.
regaining ground bela bela
The final Re-Vision event started on a hot Limpopo day at the HIV/AIDS Prevention Group (HAPG) clinic in Bela Bela.
The specific objectives of this Re-Vision event were to: • Share our success and what we as civil society have achieved to date • Examine the current context within the province • Reflect on the successes and challenges emerging from real world examples from the province • Engage in discussion as to how we can regain some of the losses, especially relating to health and HIV in the province • Engage in deeper conversation on how we move forward as a network of like-minded organisations
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• The need to work more closely, together as civil society organisations, in Limpopo. • The fault does not only lie with government. In many cases CSOs tend to be competitive, territorial, and ‘don’t want to rock the boat’ when it comes to government and other funders. • The difficulties associated with partnerships, as well as the fact that currently civil society is not very organised within the province, were recognised. • Collaboration was recognised as an important approach to take ‘post Oxfam Australia’. Various techniques were discussed, such as educating and building relationships with other donors, as well as developing strategic partnerships with other CSOs.
• Underlying this are the issues with the general health system, such as poor management, misuse of the referral system, politicians deciding on budgets, and so on. • The latest statistics across the country on HIV/AIDS and TB demonstrate that we have passed the peak incidence rate. The country has done well with biomedical interventions (treatments) but more will be needed to prevent transmission. • The UNAIDS investment framework was presented in connection with the 90/90/90 targets4. Within this, rigorous discussions were had on the ‘test and treat’ approach which would drastically reduce transmission but has risks of drug resistance through possible poor adherence. • Limpopo has one of the lowest incidences in terms of HIV, with KZN being one of the highest. • Government policy versus implementation • In many instances, government has good policies but implementation is not done accordingly, resulting in challenging foreseen and unforeseen implications. • The Limpopo Province was under administration for 4 years and has recently (2014) moved back to provincial control. This has implications for governance and there is a sense that the departments may be underspending for fear of wasteful expenditure.
4 The 90/90/90 targets have been set by UNAIDS in an effort to help end the AIDS epidemic. As per the UNAIDS website, “By 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status. By 2020, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy. By 2020, 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.” Source: http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2014/90-90-90
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looking ahead, what do we see? Although each of the Re-Vision events was distinct in its design, content, atmosphere and participation, there were a number of threads which ran through all of them. Firstly, the appreciation, and of course celebration, of the work of partners with OAU was undeniable. Many words of encouragement and thanks were shared.
“ As we deliberate here, we have enduring memories of the great moments of service among the South African communities that we served with passion and compassion. I feel, nowhere was the spirit more lively than in us. We exuded the spirit of love, caring and enterprise in spite of odds. ” OAU, Durban
“ OAU has learnt much more from partners in SA than you’ve learnt from us. ” “ Thank you to the whole Oxfam team in RSA for many great years of working together. ”
OAU, CT
Partner, Durban
“ [OAU] brought more than money – the exchange of ideas, their wisdom and knowledge; their learning; sense of humour... it’s been an absolute joy. ” Partner, CT
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For many participants, this celebration had difficult and emotional moments which are a testament to the strong bonds formed between these organisations and the people that made this great work a reality over the years.
“ In the process [of the event], Oxfam Australia reaffirmed its presence as a partner-in-development, a practice which is not the norm for INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organisations) working in South Africa... ”
This leads into the second main thread across the Re-Vision events – that of partnership. Indeed, ‘collaboration, collaboration, collaboration’ was emphasised in a variety of ways across the regions. In the discussions on hate crimes in Cape Town, the need to work together on complex issues was recognised. Partners not working directly with LGBTIQ persons and foreign nationals, for example, were urged to look beyond their own reach, and connect with others. The Gay and Lesbian Network from Pietermaritzburg also shared how one of their strengths in dealing with hate crimes has been through partnerships, for example, partnering with others on issues like disability, as well as serving on platforms like the hate crimes working group. This was built on at the Durban discussions on livelihoods in a variety of ways. In group discussions on active citizenship, participants reinforced ‘the power of a collective’, and there were numerous partner presentations which highlighted partnership in their work, such as Siyavuna, who works with emerging farmers and farmer associations and argued that networks are key to their success. In a separate discussion on youth and livelihoods, the Wilderness Foundation, through their Umzi Wethu program, expressed the same sentiments. However, participants also recognised the difficulties of working in partnership and that in many instances organisations still work in dreaded (but much talked about) silos. This nuance was not lost on the Limpopo Re-Vision participants who reflected that while civil society organisations are not currently organised in the province, it would
Facilitator, Durban
“ This is our way to wrap up the work we have started with you; for us we have seen the partnerships we have formed over the years and the growth in the work; we have seen you as organisations grow; we have seen the changes – beautiful and inspiring changes. ” OAU, Bela Bela
“ This feels like closing but there is also hope; it’s not really ending, we are moving forward... ” Partner, Bela Bela
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be important to connect. Some of the benefits discussed include shared responsibility, additional support, and greater potential opportunities. In terms of providing a space for building partnerships, overall 73% of participants across the Re-Vision events indicated that they were able to deepen alliances. However, some participants did find that they were not able to do so (15%)5. These were predominantly at the KZN event where it was found that the day was very full and there was not much time to do so. Nevertheless, across the 3 events, partners did acknowledge a number of potential opportunities. When asked what their organisations could take away from Re-Vision in terms of partnerships, they recognised a number of future possibilities as follows:
Reflections from the OAU Board representative and the affiliate representatives from Oxfam Germany also reiterated how the OAU-SA partnership approach was tangible during the Re-Vision events:
“ The SA program approach was close to ideal in terms of relationships...the mutual relationship was felt [at the event]...” Oxfam Germany, CT
“ It became really clear... that the relationship was not the normal donor-partner relationship; there was something completely different... They [the partners] described us as an honest friend. When things were difficult, our team members were people you could talk to, [and they] would help work a way through the challenges, and provide non-judgemental support... A positive, open relationship based on trust achieves much; the results will be limited where the relationship is not based on trust.”
potential alliances / partnerships for the future
13% engaging with govt. policites
12% program work
21% info sharing and exchange
14% fundraising
23% new ideas
15%
OAU Board Representative, CT and Durban
solidarity building
0% none
2% other
5 These figures were gathered from the evaluation sheets which were handed out at each event.
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This was summed up well in one facilitator’s reflection that the Re-Vision events re-emphasised that “OAU’s strength is in their partners”. This was also reflected by Oxfam staff and other facilitators who noted the camaraderie, concern and mutual learning which took place at each of the events. OZA was also provided with space at each event to engage with partners on their thinking and strategies.
Lastly, it is essential to draw out the critical and structural nature of many of the conversations across the Re-Vision events which demonstrated a broader and deeper approach to issues. This was first introduced during the CT event where it was argued that power needs to be challenged and privilege disrupted (including the privilege within the room). This was echoed in different ways within the Limpopo and KZN events. The structures of culture, religion, patriarchy, capitalism and white privilege were highlighted as critical to unsettle. During the KZN event, there was a call for partners to go back to a power analysis – the roots of the problem – in order to create meaningful change. At the Limpopo event, the power relations between the communityCSO and the CSO-government were discussed at length.
Building on this theme of partnerships, the strategies, challenges and benefits of working with government were examined to varying degrees across the Re-Vision events. From the CT discussions which analysed the postcolonial state, to the conversations in Bela Bela on the province under administration, this sharing gave some insight into the complexities of working with, and influencing government. The ‘implementation gap’ so often begrudgingly mentioned in development circles was outlined as a reality where policy and practice do not seem to meet. The Re-Vision events also re-emphasised, however, that collaboration is critical if we want to achieve widespread sustainable changes.
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looking back, what did we achieve? “ In true ‘Link and Learn’ fashion, partners were also able to reconnect with one another, deepen alliances, and explore engagement on critical policy issues.”
In summary, it is clear from the above that OAU in SA did achieve the objectives set out for the Re-Vision events. Despite substantial challenges (and of course not without hiccups), the team were able to provide partners with a space and time that fulfilled a number of needs during this exit phase. At the Re-Vision events, partners celebrated the great work achieved, and learnt from one another by reflecting on the current state of the development sector, in their province and nationally, while unpacking the different focus areas of hate crimes, livelihoods, and regaining ground. In true ‘Link and Learn’ fashion, partners were also able to reconnect with one another, deepen alliances, and explore engagement on critical policy issues.
Change is never easy, but in the words of the indomitable Blessing Zama (Company Secretary and Business Services Manager) at the Limpopo ReVision event “We are down, but we are not out!”. This future orientation is a testament to the OAU team in SA, as well as the strong partnerships. In this light, it is hoped that this report provides a tool for further reflection and engagement, as we continue to move forward.
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Thanks from the Associate Country Director Wendy Lubbee “ Staff took the time to build strong relationships of trust and mutual understanding with partners and service providers�
On behalf of the Management team I would like to thank the staff for their contribution in making the Re-Vision Link and learns such memorable events. It was because of the individual contributions that each staff member made to the Oxfam Australia South African program that we had so much to celebrate and to reflect upon. It was because staff took the time to build strong relationships of trust and mutual understanding with partners and service providers that we were able to build a strong effective program within South Africa which was flexible and able to adapt with the times.
To the Oxfam partners and their teams, thank you for the hard work and dedication you showed in running your programs under sometimes very difficult circumstances. We counted it a privilege to work alongside you and to support your work. We are truly thankful for the amazing legacy that was created for Oxfam in South Africa and we should all be proud of what has been achieved together.
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poem
START CLOSE IN By David Whyte
Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in, the step you don’t want to take.
Start with the ground you know, the pale ground beneath your feet, your own way of starting the conversation.
To find another’s voice, follow your own voice, wait until that voice becomes a private ear listening to another.
Start right now take a small step you can call your own don’t follow someone else’s heroics, be humble and focused,
Start with your own question, give up on other people’s questions, don’t let them smother something simple.
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Start close in, don’t mistake that other for your own.
Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in, the step you don’t want to take.